New Jersey Democratic State Committee Chairman John Currie issued a statement Wednesday in which he said newly-revealed emails and documents show Gov. Chris Christie’s (R) “vindictive political motivations” were behind lane closures on the George Washington Bridge last September.
Some Democrats have alleged the lanes were shut as revenge against a local mayor who declined to endorse Christie’s re-election bid. The emails show officials in the governor’s administration communicated with his appointees at the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey, which oversees the bridge prior to the order to close the lanes.
“These emails demonstrate that under Governor Christie, vindictive political motivations were allowed to trump any regard for public safety,” Currie said.
The emails were obtained by TPM and other media outlets after a state Assembly committee investigating the incident subpoenaed seven officials demanding any correspondence between the Port Authority and the Christie administration.
As a result of the communications obtained through those subpoenas, Christie’s close ally and former high school classmate David Wildstein, who ordered the lane closures, was subpoenaed to testify at a hearing scheduled for Thursday.
“As hearings into this matter continue, Governor Christie owes us an explanation for why his core team appears to have such disdain for the public trust and how they could seriously abuse the power of the governor’s office right under his nose,” said Currie.
Christie has repeatedly denied he had any involvement with the lane closures.
“This time, I suggest that the governor try a new approach when answering questions: honesty,” Currie said.
